Garment clasp and method of making same



Jan. .26, 192s. Y' 1,570,625

I s. A. EDmNs GARHENT CLASP AND METHOD OF "MAKING SAME Filed Jan'. 2, 1925 l?? vena# Patented Jan. 26, 1926.

UNITED STATES SEXTUS A. EDDINS, OF BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

GARMENT CLASP AND METHOD MAKING SAME.

Application med January 2, i925. serial No. 11o.

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, Snx'rUs A. EDinNs, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement vin Garment Clasps and Methods of Making Same, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings representing like parts. t

My present invention relates to novel garment clasps and to a novel method or process of making the saine. l

One of the principal diculties found in the present types of clasps, such as used on garment and hose supporters, is that the holding devices engaging or clasping the garment to be supported, become too easily unfastened. An important object of my present invention, therefore, is to provide a garment clasp which, when in position on a fabric of any kind, will be positively held against accidental loosening, and will hold the garment in a firm, tight grip at all times. I accomplish this desirable result by having the garment clasp constantly under tension when in clasping position. may be provided in many ways, and I have herein illustrated two preferable methods.

Garment supporters, particularly hose supporters including the clasps of the pres ent application are shown, described and claimed in my prior `and accompanying application Serial No. 757,020, filed `December 19th, 1924i. lThe present application is restricted to the clasps themselves, and to the process of making same.

In one form of clasp, as herein shown, I so position one end of the garment clasp under a retaining strip, which strip is .attached to a supporting plate, that when the clasp is in cooperative position on the garment holding button, it will be firmly held against accidental loosening or unlocking movement.

As a second method of maintaining my improved clasp under tension, I utilize a strip of elastic webbing attached to one end of the garment clasp, and so arranged as to exert a locking tension upon the garment holder .at all times, and performs substantially the same function as the first construction above mentioned. In the manufacture of my novel clasps I 'utilize non-metallic material, such as Celluloid, or the like, so

This tension` far as feasible and practical,y so as to eliminate the use of any metallic portion in the construction thereof.

A further feature of my present invention is that, all working parts of the same being composed of non-metallic material, the danger of tearing or otherwise injuring the fabric held by this clasp is eliminated.

I have also devised a garment clasp which is extremely economical to manufacture, for the reason that all of the operating parts of same can be stamped out of plate, or other sheet material. Thus, in utilizing Celluloid, for example, the clasp, main plates, and other parts, can allbe stamped out of celluloid plate at a. single stamping operation.

I have also devised a novel button, preferably of rubber, or other resilient and nonmetallic material, which button comprises a head, a neck, and a base, the base of this button being made considerably larger than the ordinary button base. The advantageV of thus constructing my novel button in this manner is that the head and neck of the same may be offset or eccentric relatively with the base, if desired, and will give a betterV leverage for the base on the portion against which it rests, and will permit a greater strain to be placed upon the button, with yless danger of its being broken away. I believe that my novel clasps, constructed as above described, are new and the same are claimed broadly herein.

In the manufacture of the first form of clasp above-mentioned, I utilize a supporting plate, to which is to be attached a retaining strip. strip are formed apertures, each larger at one end than the other, and having the larger portions of said apertures oppositely ar ranged in the plate and strip. In assembling` the plate strip and button, the strip is positioned on the plate, in any such manner that the larger portions of the apertures are positioned over each other, whereupon the head and neck of the buttonA are inserted therethrough, after which the strip is moved to normal position and secured to the supporting plate. This action of moving the strip to locked position after the insertion of the button, brings the smaller portions of the cooperating apertures in the supporting plate and strip, into alineinent on the neck of the button, thus firmly gripping the same and preventingany possible looseness thereof. Before securing the strip to the sup- At one end of the plate and porting plate, the garment claspi having therein an aperture preferably squared, is positioned between the plate and the strip, in such a manner that the strip projects through the squared aperture. The purpose of this is that when the strip is secured to the supporting plate, it will at all times exert a downward holding tension on the garment clasp. The clasp is also provided with the usual aperture or opening to fit over the button and garmentheld thereby, this latter opening being larger at one end than at the other, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

In forming the second clasp mentioned above, l provide a supporting plate, with an aperture at one end thereof, and thereupon split the end o-f the plate having thel aperture, from the extreme end thereof to a predetermined point beyond the aperture, whereupon, the material of which the plate is formed being flexible, the end of the plate is sprung where split, and the button `inserted therethrough, whereupon on releasing the split end, the same will firmly grip the button in position. The base of the button can also be cemented to the supporting vplate in each of the above forms, if desired.

In this second form of clasp, the garment clasp is held to the supporting plate by a strip of elastic material, said clasp having therein a button engaging aperture similar to that above described. lVhen the garment clasp has been placed in position over the button, the elastic retaining or holding` strip will promptly bring the clasp into locking position over the button. l believe that the process of manufacture of my novel garment clasp as above described 1s new, and the same is also claimed broadly herein.

Further features of the invention, novel' combinations of parts, and advantages, will be hereinafter more fullypointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustra-ting preferredembodiments of my present invention,

F ig. 1 is a front elevation of the supporting plate of my novel clasp;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation ofthe retaining strip;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the novel form of button used in my clasp;

F ig. l being a side elevation of the same button;

Fig.v 5 is a front elevation of the plate, button and retaining strip in assembled position, justprior to being forced into completed position;

Fig. G is a cross-sectional view on the line G-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 being a view on the line T-T of F 5;

Fig. 8 is a front skeleton elevation of my novel clasp in completely assembled form,

showing a garter to which it is attached, in fragmentary form;

Fig. 9 is a side sectional view on the line 9 9 of Fig. S; and

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional View on the line lO-lO of Fig. 9;

Fig. ll is a fragmentary perspective view of the clasp and elastic retaining strip of a modification of my clasp; and

Fig. l2 is a perspective View of the supporting plate, and split end, of said modification.

As shown in the drawing, l provide a plate l, having therein longitudinal slots 2, 2, through which the webbing of the leg band is fitted, and `having also a small circular aperture 3, through which is clinched a rivet, or the like, as willr behereinafter described. On the lower end of the plate l is formed an aperture l, preferably larger at one end than the other. This plate l and all cooperating parts are made of nen-metallic material. To this plate l is applied a strip 5, having therein a small circular aperture (3 to be alined with the aperture 3 in the plate l, to receive a rivet, or the like, therethrough. At the lower end of this strip 5 l provide an aperture 7, also larger at one end than the other. This aperture 7 is adapted to cooperate with the aperture 4 in the plate l, and it will be noted that the larger ends of the apertures a and 7 are oppositely positioned. rlhis strip 5 is-also provided with slanting shoulders 8 and 9, the purpose of which l will describe hereafter.

Figs. 3 and l illustrate my novel form of button, comprising a base l0, neck 1l, and head l2. lt will be noted that the base l() is larger than the usual or customary button base, and that the neel; and head ofthe but ton are offset7 or eccentric relatively with the center of the base. The purpose ofso forming my nov l button is that when the button is applied to an article, it will be capable of standing much greater strain and wear, due to the increased area and the bearing surface resulting therefrom, on the article to Vwhich-it is applied.

Referring now to Fig. 5, this illustrates the plate l, strip 5, and the button, in -assembled position, prior to being fitted in final position. As therein illustrated, the plate l and strip 5 have been superimposed on each other with the larger ends of the apertures el and 7 in alinement, the head -12 of the button has been forced therethrough, and the strip 5 is ready to bemoved upwardly along the plate 1,'untilthe aperture 6 will have been brought into alinement with the aperture 3 in the plate 1.

Figs. G and 7 are cross-sectional Views illustrating the relative posi-tions of the various members shown' in Figy, before being moved to final position.

As shown in Fig. 8, my novel clasp is illustrated in completely assembled and closed position. In this figure I have represented in fragmentary form, a conventional garter or leg band 15, which is fitted through the slots 2 in the plate 1, and secured in position by a hooked rivet 16, which hooked rivet extends through the webbing 15 and apertures 6 and 3 in the strip 5 and plate 1 respectively, thus securing these portionsof the clasp together in a firm and rigid manner. In this figure, also, is illustrated the clasp 20, having therein a squared aperture 21, this clasp being slidably mounted on the strip 5, which strip 5 extends through the aperture 21, and this strip 5 being firmly secured to the plate 1, at each end thereof, exerts a downwardly holding tension on the end 22 of the clasp 20. The clasp 20 is also p-rovided with an aperture having an enlarged portion 23, and a narrow portion 24. When the clasp is in closed position, upon the button 12, the narrow end 24 of this aperture fits snugly about the neck 11 of said button, and the garmentfor fabric held thereover. This clasp 20 is also held firmly in position, against accidental loosening or unfastening by the tension of the strip 5 thereon. Vhen it is desired to unfasten the garter, as shown herein, the clasp 20 will be moved downwardly, as shown in Fig. 8, until the enlarged portion 23 is in alinement with the head 12 of the button whereupon the sides of the squared aperture 21 will come in contact with the slanting shoulders 8 and 9 of the strip 5, thus forcing the lower end of the clasp 2O upwardly and away from the button, and fabric held thereon, insuring a positive freeing of the clasp from said button and fabric.

Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view, clearly illustrating the assembled structure shown in Fig. 8, and illustrates graphically the i pressure or tension exerted upon the end 22 of the clasp 20.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view on the line 10-10 of Fig. 9, clearly illustrating the gripping action of the strip 5 and plate 1 upon the neck 11 of the button, when the parts are in the position illustrated in the Figs. 8 and 9.

Referring now to Figs. 11 and 12, illustrating a modification of my present clasp wherein I have provided a supporting plate 30, having therein slots 31, 31, similar to slots 2, 2 in Fig. 1, and having also a circular aperture 32 similar to and for the same purpose as the aperture 3 in Fig. 1. This plate 30 is provided at one end thereof with an aperture 32, and is also split along a portion thereof, as illustrated at 33. IVhen applying the garment holding button thereto, the split end 33 is forced apart, the head 34 and neck 35 of the button are wedged therethrough, whereupon the slit en d 33 is returned to normal position firmly gripping the neck of the button therein. The button herein illustrated is also provided with an enlarged base 35, for greater resistance and holding capacity. I also provide a clasp 36, having therein a button receiving aperture, this aperture having an enlarged end 37, and a narrow end 38. At the opposite end of this clasp I also provide a slot 39, through which is fitted a strip of elastic webbing or the like 40, this strip 40 being stitched together or otherwise secured at 41. This elastic webbing 40 is secured at the other end, by a hooked rivet (not shown), which secures the leg band webbing 40, and plate 30 together, passing through the laperture 32 in the plate 30. Itwill thus be seen that, upon application of the clasp 36 to the button 34, through the enlarged portion 37 of the aperture in the clasp, upon release of the clasp 36, the tension of the elastic webbing or other elastic material will automaticallyrpull the clasp 36 upwardly or to the left, as viewed in Fig. 12, until the narrow portion 38 of the aperture engages with the neck 35 of the button 34 and the fabric which is on the button, thus holding the same at all times in a firm manner, and preventing accident-al loosening or unclasping of the same.

I believe that my novel clasps, as above illustrated and described, are new, and also the processes of making same, and I desire to claim these broadly herein.

While I have described my invention somewhat in detail, it will be appreciated that I may vary the size, shape and arrangement of parts within wide limits, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

My invention isv further described and defined in the form of claims as follows:

1. A clasp of the kind described comprising a body portion having a resilient button attached at its lower end and extending through and outwardly therefrom, said button being set eccentric relatively with its base, a resilient retaining strip secured to said body portion a clasping member slidably mounted between said body portion and said resilient retaining strip, said clasping m-ember being provided with a perforation and adapted to fit over th-e button, whereupon it will be held under constant tension by the pressure of the resilient strip.

2. A. clasp of the kind described comprising a body portion and a resilient retaining strip, cooperating oppositely positioned apertures in said bodyr portion and strip, said apertures being adapted to receive and hold a button, said button being set eccentric relatively with its base, a clasping member slidably mounted between said body portion and said resilient retaining strip, said clasping member being provided with a perforation and adapted to tit over the but- Y member.

3. A clasp of the kind described comprising a body portion and a resilient retaining strip, cooperating oppositely positioned apertures in said body rportion and strip, said apertures being adapted .toireceive and hold a button, said button being set eceentriel relatively `with its base, a elvpiiife:r member slidably .mounted between said body ypor` tion and said resilient retaining'. strip, said elasping member .being provided with a perforation and adapted to iit over the button whereupon it vwill beheld under constant tension by the pressure ot the resilient member, and means :on the retaining'- strip to automatically move the elaspingimeniber away troni the button when said Clasping ,member is moved toward unclasping position.

4. Al Clasp of the kind described comprising a body. portion and a resilient retain- ,ing strip, cooperating oppositely positioned apertures in said body portion and strip, said apertures being adapted to receive and hold a. button, said button being set eccentric relatively with its base, a clasping meinber slidably mounted between said body por- `t'on.and said resilient retaining strip, said `strip to automatically move the elaspingl member. away from the button when said c-laspingmember is moved toward unelaspingl position.

ln testimony whereof, I have signed my `naine to this specification.

SEXTUS A. EDDINS. 

